Komedia funding cut

[Lord Bracknell]

Disgraceful!

The Arts Council yesterday announced that it was cutting its funding to the Komedia to ... nothing.

Brighton Festival will get £897,393 and Glyndebourne Opera £1,459,570).

Expect a fight!

 

[The Large One]

Expect a major problem - unless Komedia are now coining it in.

 

[Gwylan]

That's disgraceful; Komedia's a great little venue. What was the previous year's grant?

I always thought Glyndebourne prided itself on being subsidy-free, that's certainly how they market themselves. What a con that is.

 

[tedebear]

I never knew Komedia got funding in the first place!

 

[Mr Blobby]

We have already felt the impact of Sussex when they take these decisions. We now have any empty, decaying building on campus, what a waste!


Cuts force arts centre to close down
By Rachel Fitch


A leading arts centre is to close next year because of funding cuts.

The Gardner Arts Centre, in Brighton, has announced the spring 2007 season will be its last.

Deborah Grubb, chairwoman of the board, explained the building was leased from the University of Sussex and needed about £14 million of improvements.

She said the Arts Council and Brighton and Hove City Council had decided to concentrate funding on city centre venues, which had impacted on the Gardner's programme and income.

Last month, Brighton and Hove City Council withdrew its annual £30,000 grant in favour of other city centre arts groups.

On Wednesday, the Arts Council also decided to stop its funding next July.

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Ms Grubb said: "These circumstances leave the board with no option but closure.

"This is a very difficult decision for an organisation which over the years has so consistently delivered programmes of the highest standard but we have to accept our work depends on ongoing levels of public funding which we will no longer have.

"It is better to take the decision now and close while we can still be proud of what we are achieving than to struggle on hoping for the best.

"To struggle on would, in our view, inevitably lead to a messy, unplanned closure, which is not something we want to contemplate for an organisation whose work is respected and admired, and which has always conducted its business affairs with absolute professionalism."

Situated at the University of Sussex's Falmer site, the Gardner was one of the first university campus arts centres in the country.

It opened in 1969 and occupies a Grade II listed building designed by Sir Basil Spence.

 

[The Large One]

I never knew Komedia got funding in the first place!

How do you think that a tiny little revuebar in Manchester Street that occasionally had 60 people in managed to acquire the entire former premises of a supermarket in Gardner Street and turn it into a 600-capacity revuebar/nightclub/venue then?

 

[ben andrews' girlfriend]

We have already felt the impact of Sussex when they take these decisions. We now have any empty, decaying building on campus, what a waste!


Cuts force arts centre to close down
By Rachel Fitch


A leading arts centre is to close next year because of funding cuts.

The Gardner Arts Centre, in Brighton, has announced the spring 2007 season will be its last.

Deborah Grubb, chairwoman of the board, explained the building was leased from the University of Sussex and needed about £14 million of improvements.

She said the Arts Council and Brighton and Hove City Council had decided to concentrate funding on city centre venues, which had impacted on the Gardner's programme and income.

Last month, Brighton and Hove City Council withdrew its annual £30,000 grant in favour of other city centre arts groups.

On Wednesday, the Arts Council also decided to stop its funding next July.

advertisement
Ms Grubb said: "These circumstances leave the board with no option but closure.

"This is a very difficult decision for an organisation which over the years has so consistently delivered programmes of the highest standard but we have to accept our work depends on ongoing levels of public funding which we will no longer have.

"It is better to take the decision now and close while we can still be proud of what we are achieving than to struggle on hoping for the best.

"To struggle on would, in our view, inevitably lead to a messy, unplanned closure, which is not something we want to contemplate for an organisation whose work is respected and admired, and which has always conducted its business affairs with absolute professionalism."

Situated at the University of Sussex's Falmer site, the Gardner was one of the first university campus arts centres in the country.

It opened in 1969 and occupies a Grade II listed building designed by Sir Basil Spence.

I can't believe theyre closing that - It's a really nice place, i've done plays / dances there.

 

[Bozza]

How do you think that a tiny little revuebar in Manchester Street that occasionally had 60 people in managed to acquire the entire former premises of a supermarket in Gardner Street and turn it into a 600-capacity revuebar/nightclub/venue then?

I'd have assumed they'd have borrowed against future revenue streams.

I've only been to the Komedia a couple of times but have walked past many, many more. It always seems to be thriving and, sensibly, with several strings to their bow. My assumption would have been it was an entirely commercial enterprise that did not need or rely upon grants.

 

[Bozza]

I can't believe theyre closing that - It's a really nice place, i've done plays / dances there.

They're not closing it. It's long since closed.

 

[Franks Wild Years]

The Gardner closing is a bloody crime, however Bristol Old Vic the countries oldest continually running theatre saying it may not reopen ofter its refurbishment is an even bigger crime. We don't value live entertainment enough, sadly.

 

[ben andrews' girlfriend]

They're not closing it. It's long since closed.

Bloody hell - how did i miss it closing?! Bloody university!

 

[Storer68]

Why
Just because you don't like opera!

World class venue in Sussex - not afraid to put up world calss architecture in the heart of the sussex countryside............... (sound famikiar?(

 

[The Large One]

I'd have assumed they'd have borrowed against future revenue streams.

I've only been to the Komedia a couple of times but have walked past many, many more. It always seems to be thriving and, sensibly, with several strings to their bow. My assumption would have been it was an entirely commercial enterprise that did not need or rely upon grants.

We're talking MILLIONS going into that project to get it up and running. And MILLIONS on its extension to make it a viable project.

 

[aftershavedave]

I'd have assumed they'd have borrowed against future revenue streams.

I've only been to the Komedia a couple of times but have walked past many, many more. It always seems to be thriving and, sensibly, with several strings to their bow. My assumption would have been it was an entirely commercial enterprise that did not need or rely upon grants.

that's what i thought.

don't tell me the all night cafe is subsidised too!

 

[Bozza]

We're talking MILLIONS going into that project to get it up and running. And MILLIONS on its extension to make it a viable project.

At what point does 'viable' mean not needing hand-outs ?

 

[The Large One]

At what point does 'viable' mean not needing hand-outs ?

f*** knows. I suppose it's possible that whatever that point is, they've reached it.

 

[BlueWhite]

At what point does 'viable' mean not needing hand-outs ?

Grants don't mean handouts. It is impossible to make new plays without funding and often that means grants. We couldn't have made "Brighton 'Til I Die!" without funding from the Arts Council.

Most of Komedia looks after itself: the comedy and music pay for themselves. But theatre is expensive and needs Arts Council funding. I know a lot of people aren't into theatre but I believe its important and powerful and so, I think, did the audiences at "Brighton 'Til I Die!"

We did that show 6 years ago, but today, with the Gardner allowed to close and theatre at the Komedia in jeopardy, I don't think we could have produced it. Shame on the Arts Council.

 

[Questions]

is that why I had to pay 20 quid for a Krater ticket next saturday ?

 

[Storer68]

Grants don't mean handouts. It is impossible to make new plays without funding and often that means grants. We couldn't have made "Brighton 'Til I Die!" without funding from the Arts Council.

Most of Komedia looks after itself: the comedy and music pay for themselves. But theatre is expensive and needs Arts Council funding. I know a lot of people aren't into theatre but I believe its important and powerful and so, I think, did the audiences at "Brighton 'Til I Die!"

We did that show 6 years ago, but today, with the Gardner allowed to close and theatre at the Komedia in jeopardy, I don't think we could have produced it. Shame on the Arts Council.

Grants are handouts (and I know, I have handed a fair few millon quid in my time) but if theatre is sp expensive that it can't pay for itself then it ought to go bust

 

[Storer68]

Grants don't mean handouts. It is impossible to make new plays without funding and often that means grants. We couldn't have made "Brighton 'Til I Die!" without funding from the Arts Council.

Most of Komedia looks after itself: the comedy and music pay for themselves. But theatre is expensive and needs Arts Council funding. I know a lot of people aren't into theatre but I believe its important and powerful and so, I think, did the audiences at "Brighton 'Til I Die!"

We did that show 6 years ago, but today, with the Gardner allowed to close and theatre at the Komedia in jeopardy, I don't think we could have produced it. Shame on the Arts Council.

Grants are handouts (and I know, I have handed a fair few millon quid in my time) but if theatre is sp expensive that it can't pay for itself then it ought to go bust.

I don't suppose that tickets at falmer will be grant-aided because the Albion have to pay back a huge loan.